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Some notes on 2016 Arizona Fall League standouts:
Josh Staumont, RHP, Kansas City Royals (Surprise Saguaros): A second round pick in 2015 out of Azusa Pacific, Staumont has thrown 10.1 innings over three starts so far, walking four but giving up just five hits while striking out 11 and allowing only one run. During the regular season he pitched 123 innings between High-A and Double-A, allowing an unsightly 104 walks but also striking out 167. As you may assume from the numbers he's got nasty stuff, including a fastball clocked as high as 102 and a plus curveball, but control problems threaten to hold him back.
Jared Miller, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks (Salt River Rafters): Miller has pitched seven innings over four relief outings but leads the league with 14 strikeouts against just one walk, giving up zero runs. We interviewed Miller this past weekend. In addition to the pretty numbers he has a 90-95 MPH fastball, a cutter, and a very high ground ball rate. He could see the Arizona bullpen in 2017. If he maintains his command he could be more than just a LOOGY.
Drew Ward, 3B, Washington Nationals (Glendale Desert Dogs): Nationals prospect Drew Ward has a .448/.529/.517 slash line through eight games, leading the Arizona Fall League in batting average and on-base percentage. A third round pick in 2013 from high school in Leedy, Oklahoma, Ward is a well-built 6-3, 215 pound left-handed hitter, age 21. His regular season performance was very strong in High-A (.278/.377/.491) but weak after his promotion to Double-A (.219/.310/.309). Ward has 60-grade raw power but has yet to consistently tap it in games. Even in Arizona so far he's stood out more for his patience at the plate than his power but I think more pop will come in time.
Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians (Mesa Solar Sox): Drafted in the first round in 2014 from the University of San Francisco, Zimmer is hitting .304/.529/.565 through eight games in Arizona, with nine walks in 23 at-bats; he's also stolen six bases already without being caught. The speed/power/patience combination makes him a multi-category threat, although his batting averages in the minors haven't been great. He'll appear in Cleveland sometime in 2017 and projects as a potent secondary average player with above-average outfield defense.